"School House Rock: The Preamble"
School House Rock: The Preamble
THE PREAMBLE
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our prosperity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The Constitution itself is divided into three major parts, the Preamble, seven articles, and amendments. The Preamble, or introduction introduces the main purpose of the U.S. Constitution, and why it was needed. The Preamble is an explanation why the Constitution was written, and the major goals it hopes to accomplish. The single most important part of the Preamble is the first three words, “We the people…” which point out where our government receives its authority from, the people that are governed. The U.S. Constitution was created by the people of one nation, not a monarchy led by a distant tyrannical king.
The remainder of the Constitution consisted of seven Articles and the Amendments. The seven Articles outline the three branches of government, and specific powers and responsibilities of the government. Each Article contains different Sections and Clauses that help organize the document. The Amendments are additions and changes that have been made to the Constitution since its ratification.
The Parts of the U.S. Constitution
The Preamble
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our prosperity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The Preamble defines the following six goals:
1) “to form a more perfect union”
- They hoped to construct a stronger and more effective government than the Articles of Confederation.
2) “establish justice”
- Form, or create, a better system of courts and trial system.
3) “ensure domestic tranquility”
- Keep peace between the different states.
4) “provide for the common defense”
- Defend the nation from threats and others that will do the nation harm or evil.
5) “promote the general welfare”
- Guard the right of the people to work for a high standard of living, or good living conditions.
6) “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”
- Safeguard the same freedom for themselves and generations of Americans to come.
Articles:
· Article I – Outlines the Legislative Branch
· Article II – Outlines the Executive Branch
· Article III – Outlines the Judicial Branch
· Article IV – Defines the rules for and relationship between the states
· Article V – States the rules and procedures for amending the Constitution
· Article VI – Declares that the Constitution is the Supreme law of the land
· Article VII – Outlines the process for ratifying, or approving, the Constitution
Amendments:
· The Bill of Rights – The first ten amendments
· Additional Amendments – Amendments 11 through 27
"Barney Fife: The Preamble"